Gypsum in El Salvador Story reported by Patrick Dymora.

Gypsum in El SalvadorGypsum in El Salvador

Story reported by Patrick DymoraStory reported by Patrick Dymora

My Trip to El SalvadorMy Trip to El Salvador El Salvador is a very peaceful area from what I can tell. It is very nice and El Salvador is a very peaceful area from what I can tell. It is very nice and

slowly growing economically and socially (El Salvador mining, n.d.). From slowly growing economically and socially (El Salvador mining, n.d.). From my travels I have discovered that El Salvador is actually slowly becoming my travels I have discovered that El Salvador is actually slowly becoming destroyed from unnecessary mineral mining. It is because of this mineral destroyed from unnecessary mineral mining. It is because of this mineral mining that sustainable development plans for Northern El Salvador are mining that sustainable development plans for Northern El Salvador are being halted (Congressional Letter, n. d.). I will continue to further explore El being halted (Congressional Letter, n. d.). I will continue to further explore El Salvador in search of more evidence that mining really is destroying this Salvador in search of more evidence that mining really is destroying this beautiful country.beautiful country.

Photo credit : Susispice Word Press

Picture showing the destruction Picture showing the destruction

of land by mining.of land by mining.

Photo credit: Monga Bay

GypsumGypsum

The mineral Gypsum is one of the many minerals that The mineral Gypsum is one of the many minerals that are mined for in El Salvador. It is because of these are mined for in El Salvador. It is because of these minerals that the land of El Salvador is being ruined minerals that the land of El Salvador is being ruined (Mining in El Salvador). The land is being ruined by (Mining in El Salvador). The land is being ruined by many different types of ways, and it is harmful to many many different types of ways, and it is harmful to many different things, which I will cover later in my report.different things, which I will cover later in my report.

Photos of GypsumPhotos of Gypsum

Photo credit: Cartage Photo credit: The Encyclopedia of Science.

Gypsum Causing Water ShortagesGypsum Causing Water Shortages

I have found El Salvador to be quite a small country, with quite a few I have found El Salvador to be quite a small country, with quite a few problems. One of those problems are chronic water shortages. problems. One of those problems are chronic water shortages. Ofcoarse these can be fixed over time as the country develops. But Ofcoarse these can be fixed over time as the country develops. But if mining continues in El Salvador, the water shortages will become if mining continues in El Salvador, the water shortages will become even worse. An estimated 200,000 liters of water a day will be even worse. An estimated 200,000 liters of water a day will be needed for the mineral extraction process (Congressional Letter on needed for the mineral extraction process (Congressional Letter on Mining, n.d.). This will cause great conflict in the country Mining, n.d.). This will cause great conflict in the country (Congressional Letter on Mining, n.d.).(Congressional Letter on Mining, n.d.).

Photo credit: Upside-down World

Young boy in El Salvador fetching water from the Young boy in El Salvador fetching water from the only water source available for miles.only water source available for miles.

Photo credit: Project Concern

El Salvador Mining Causing El Salvador Mining Causing DeforestationDeforestation

El Salvador is ranked as one of the least El Salvador is ranked as one of the least forested countries forested countries (Congressional letter on (Congressional letter on

mining)mining). But if mining continues and . But if mining continues and spreads, even more forests will be cut and spreads, even more forests will be cut and destroyed in order to mine for minerals like destroyed in order to mine for minerals like Gypsum.Gypsum.

Maquilishuat, National Tree of El Salvador

Photo credit: Ray Shernandez

Here you can clearly see the deforestationHere you can clearly see the deforestation

already taking place.already taking place.

Photo credit: Wpcontent

Mining Causing Health IssuesMining Causing Health Issues Its no surprise that El Salvador isn’t the most sanitary Its no surprise that El Salvador isn’t the most sanitary

country out there, but it’s quite obvious that mining for country out there, but it’s quite obvious that mining for Gypsum will only make the current situation worse. Gypsum will only make the current situation worse. Mineral extraction will pollute the air with toxic mercury, Mineral extraction will pollute the air with toxic mercury, cyanide and sulfur dioxide gases (Congressional Letter cyanide and sulfur dioxide gases (Congressional Letter on Mining, n.d.). Theses gases have been linked to on Mining, n.d.). Theses gases have been linked to pulmonary and respiratory illnesses, cancer, pulmonary and respiratory illnesses, cancer, miscarriages, fetal deformities and are known to cause miscarriages, fetal deformities and are known to cause headaches, loss of appetite, nausea, skin problems, and headaches, loss of appetite, nausea, skin problems, and vertigo (El Salvador Sister Cities, June 17, 2009) . vertigo (El Salvador Sister Cities, June 17, 2009) .

Mining Site in El SalvadorMining Site in El Salvador

Photo credit: Crispaz

After My trip back from El Salvador, I realized After My trip back from El Salvador, I realized how lucky we as Americans are to have such a how lucky we as Americans are to have such a balanced country. Other Countries like El balanced country. Other Countries like El Salvador simply try to make their money off of Salvador simply try to make their money off of mining which ruins their land and in the end mining which ruins their land and in the end costs them more money to fix (El Salvador Sister costs them more money to fix (El Salvador Sister Cities , June 17, 2009Cities , June 17, 2009)). I hope you have all . I hope you have all enjoyed my article and learned a bit more about enjoyed my article and learned a bit more about the dangers of mining for Gypsum in El the dangers of mining for Gypsum in El Salvador.Salvador.

Reference PageReference Page Michaud, Michael H. "Congressional Letter on Mineral Mining in El Michaud, Michael H. "Congressional Letter on Mineral Mining in El

Salvador." Salvador." SHARE Foundation: Building a New El Salvador Today!SHARE Foundation: Building a New El Salvador Today! Web. 15 Web. 15 Nov. 2009. <http://www.share-elsalvador.org/programs/advocacy/miningNov. 2009. <http://www.share-elsalvador.org/programs/advocacy/mining%20dear%20colleague0307.htm>.%20dear%20colleague0307.htm>.

"Mining in El Salvador; At What Price?" "Mining in El Salvador; At What Price?" CRISPAZ - Christians for Peace in CRISPAZ - Christians for Peace in El SalvadorEl Salvador. Web. 14 Nov. 2009. . Web. 14 Nov. 2009. <http://www.crispaz.org/news/list/2008/0611.html>.<http://www.crispaz.org/news/list/2008/0611.html>.

"Mining in El Salvador So What Next?" "Mining in El Salvador So What Next?" Voices from El Salvadors WeblogVoices from El Salvadors Weblog. . Web. 16 Nov. 2009. <http://voiceselsalvador.wordpress.com/mining-in-el-Web. 16 Nov. 2009. <http://voiceselsalvador.wordpress.com/mining-in-el-salvador-so-what-now/>.salvador-so-what-now/>.

"Mining in El Salvador." "Mining in El Salvador." SalvAide Home PageSalvAide Home Page. Web. 16 Nov. 2009. . Web. 16 Nov. 2009. <http://www.salvaide.ca/mining.html>.<http://www.salvaide.ca/mining.html>.

"US - El Salvador Sister Cities - Congressional Brief: Mineral Mining In El "US - El Salvador Sister Cities - Congressional Brief: Mineral Mining In El Salvador: June 17, 2009." Salvador: June 17, 2009." U.S.-El Salvador Sister CitiesU.S.-El Salvador Sister Cities. Web. 16 Nov. . Web. 16 Nov. 2009. <http://elsalvadorsolidarity.org/joomla/index.php?2009. <http://elsalvadorsolidarity.org/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=226&Itemid=65>.option=com_content&task=view&id=226&Itemid=65>.